Pi alp to valentine d



(No Model.)

H STEEL MERRY-GO-ROUND.

No. 542,690. Patented Jul 16,1895.

structure.

' UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT sTEEL, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNoR 0F oNE- HALF To VALENTINE D. BOOK, OF sAME PLAoE.

MERRY GO ROUN'D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,690, dated July 16, 1895. Application filed February 23, 1895- Serial No. 539,356- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT STEEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MerryGo-Rounds, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingapart of this specification.

The nature of this invention is a merry-goround comprising, as generally stated, a circular course composed of two trackways, one of which is plane while the other is undulating, in combination with a series of wheeled vehicles or boats constructed to traverse the undulating trackway and a series of Wheeled platforms or carriages, which traverse the plane trackway, the said boats alternating with the platforms and being connected therewith by flexible connections, and the said platforms being connected by a circular structure, to which rotary motion is imparted in a manner to effect the operation of the apparatus. The space encircled by the course is unobstructed, so that the same may be utilized for a refreshment-pavilion, skating-rink, or the like.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan of the structure. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, as on the line m x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the undulating trackway with one of the wheeled vehicles thereon. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of the Wheeled platforms and the plane track therefor, showing the gearing for rotating said platforms.

A represents a circular course comprising two trackways B and O, the latter being mounted between the rails b of the former. The rails b are plane throughouttheir length, while those a of the track 0 are undulating, the same being supported upon suitable trestle-work c. Mounted on the track B, at suitable intervals apart, are wheeled platforms 1), which are connected by means of annular supports 1) b so as to constitute in effect one The outer support b is provided with gear-teeth b, with which engage a pinion b on a power-driven shaft b whereby the said platforms are rotated upon the trackway.

Other means for rotating the platforms may beemployed. v

Mounted on the track 0, in the spaces intermediate the platforms b', are wheeled vehicles 0 the bodies of which are preferably of the configuration of boats, as seen. The stem and stern of each boat are connected with the adjacent forward and rearward platforms, respectively, by means of chains or flexibleconnections 0 whereby during the rotation of the platforms, as above described, the boats will be simultaneously impelled, the same thus following the varying undulations of the trackway, and having imparted to them during their traverse irregular oscillations longitudinally and laterallyclosely approaching those of a boat at sea. I

The length ofthe chains is such, in relation to the undulations, as to permit the boats freely to traverse the latter and yet restrainv the boats While descending an incline from running into the adjacent forward platforms. The platforms are provided with seats I; thereon, which may be occupied by personswho prefer the regular motion of the platforms to the irregular motion of the boats.

Arranged around the inner periphery of the annulus is a continuous platform 19 by which an attendant may traverse the rotating structure to collect fares, &c. This platform is preferably in the same horizontal plane as the wheeled platforms, or practically so, whereby a person may readily pass from one of the latter to the inner platform. The revolving structure is surrounded by steps D, whereby access to the carriages, 850., may be read ily had.

By the construction above described radial supporting-arms for the revolving platforms are not required, and hence the interior space being unobstructed may be utilized for a refreshment or dancing pavilion, skating-rink, or the like.

I claim as my invention- A merry-go-round comprising a plane circular trackway, a series of platforms arranged at intervals apart in circular series and mounted upon said trackway, supports connecting the said platforms, an undulating circular trackwaywithin said first-named trackway, a series of wheeled vehicles mounted upon the said undulating trackway and arrangedin the In testimony whereof I have hereunto atopen spaces intermediate the said platforms, fixed my signature in the presence of two suband flexible connections loosely connecting scribing witnesses. the respective ends of the wheeled vehicles 5 with the adjacent ends of the platforms, to- Witnesses:

gether with means for rotating the structure, JOHN R. NOLAN, substantially as described. 1 ANDREW V. GROUPE.

ROBERT STEEL. 

